Who qualifies
The SBA Surety Bond Guarantee program is for small businesses that meet SBA size standards and cannot get standard surety credit. If a surety has turned you down, this is often the path that gets you bonded.
- New and credit-challenged contractors. The program is built for firms that cannot yet qualify for standard bonding on their own.
- Disadvantaged and certified firms. Socially and economically disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, and veteran-owned firms get the higher 90% guarantee.
The size and contract limits
The SBA will guarantee a bond on contracts up to $9,000,000 per contract, and up to $14,000,000 on federal contracts when the contracting officer certifies the guarantee is needed. On those bonds, the SBA guarantees 80% to 90% of the surety's loss, which is what lets the surety say yes. The full SBA surety bonds page breaks down how the guarantee works.
What you need to apply
Applying is paperwork, and we handle the heavy part. You will need:
- Business and personal financials. Balance sheet, income statements, and personal financial detail for the owners.
- Work history and contract details. What you have completed and the specifics of the job you are bidding.
- A prepared application. We help you assemble it and shop it to the right surety. We will not promise guaranteed approval, but we work the file.
If you have already been declined elsewhere, start with hard-to-place surety bonds or go straight to a quote and we will route you to the SBA program if it fits. The SBA surety bonds page has the rest.